The Elvis Presley songbook is used to tell a new story about 1950s small town American life in "All Shook Up." The Ivoryton Playhouse production opening Wednesday, July 2, features (front) Mara J. Herman and Nicholas Park.
Photo: Contributed Photo

Writer Joe DiPietro took the Elvis Presley songbook and used it to tell a new story -- loosely based on "Twelfth Night" -- set in a small American town in the 1950s, where the arrival of a rebellious young man stirs things up.

The show only ran for 213 performances on Broadway, but has had a long life in regional theaters all over the country. DiPietro returned to Broadway in 2010 with more success, winning Tony Awards for the script and lyrics he provided for the hit show "Memphis."

"You have jukebox musicals that are biographical like `Jersey Boys' and "Beautiful,' but this one tells a new story and the songs are all integrated. It's not about Elvis. In fact, the script makes it very clear that (the central character) is not supposed to be played like him," Amelius said.

"All Shook Up" is somewhat like "Mamma Mia!," which uses ABBA music with a story that has nothing to do with the Swedish pop group.

"I think they had a harder time placing the songs in that show. How do you integrate `Super Trouper?' " he said, laughing.

The mixture of a conservative small-town setting, and an outsider hero who stirs the pot, is not all that dissimilar from the storyline of the show Amelius did for the Ivoryton Playhouse last summer -- "Footloose."

"There's no public necking in this town. The hero wins over the hearts of the pious people, and everyone is dancing at the end. Maybe they called me for this one because it's the SAME show," the director said, chuckling, of the playhouse hiring him for "All Shook Up."

The New Yorker, who juggles teaching and theater work in the city, said it is refreshing to work in Ivoryton for Executive Director Jacqui Hubbard.

"I refer to Jacqui as the `anti-producer' because she is so different from the producers you run into in New York. They tell you what you can't do and what they can't give you.

"Jacqui wants you to succeed and she wants to give you everything you need for a show. She's also sweet and loves the theater. She makes everyone feel better about doing their jobs. Why doesn't every producer act like that?"